Poison
The Costellos Lyrics

The Costellos's song Poison is a poignant tale of despair and disillusionment. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's state of mind - lost, confused and adrift. The opening lines - "Cut loose in a nightmare, cast off in my dreams" - suggest that the character is trying to escape from a reality that feels like a waking nightmare. He longs for a sense of security and belonging but finds that even his concept of 'home' is coming apart at the seams. The mention of luck being 'upside down' and money 'rolling out of town' further reinforces the character's feeling of being out of control and powerless.

The chorus - "And these bones, they don't look so good to me, Jokers talk and they all disagree, One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon" - appears to be a message of defiance and hope. Despite feeling defeated, the character has not given up. He is determined to fight back and overcome whatever 'poison' has infiltrated his life. The mention of bones looking 'so good' adds an element of vulnerability to the picture. The character may be physically frail, but he possesses a strength of will that will help him prevail. The reference to 'jokers' suggests that people around him are trying to bring him down, but he will not let them succeed.

The second verse continues with the theme of disillusionment. The character looks in the mirror and realizes that he cannot be replaced. He is unique, yet he is being forced to fit in with a 'cruel parade'. The mention of 'magazine romance' suggests that the character has been sold a false dream of love and happiness that he now realizes is unattainable. However, he retains a spark of imagination and hope that will ultimately help him overcome his difficulties.